• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.36-42
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• 1998

Treatment of a large diseased area with electron often requires the use of two or more adjoining fields. In such cases, not only electron beam divergence and lateral scattering but also fields overlapping and separation may lead to significant dose inhomogeneities(${\pm}20%$) at the region of junction of fields. In this study, we made Acrylic Electron Wedges to improve dose inhomogeneities(${\pm}5%$) in these junction areas and to apply it to clinical practices. All measurements were made using 6, 9, 12, 16, 20 MeV Electron beams from a linear accelerator for a $10{\times}10\;cm$ field at 100cm of SSD. Adding a 1 mm sheet of acryl gradually from 1 mm to 15 mm acquires central axis depth dose beam profile and isodose curves in water phantom. As a result, for all energies, the practical range was reduced by approximately the same distance according to the acryl insert, e.g. a 1 mm thick acryl insert reduces the practical range by approximately 1 mm. For every mm thickness of acryl inserted, the beam energy was reduced to approximately 0.2 MeV. These effects were almost Independent of beam energy and field size. The use of Acrylic Electron Wedges produced a small increase(less than 3%) in the surface dose and a small increase(less than 1%) in X-ray contamination. For acryl inserts, thickness of 3 mm or greater, the penumbra width increased nearly linear for all energies and isodose curves near the beam edge were nearly parallel with the incident beam direction at the point of penumbra width($35\;mm{\sim}40\;mm$). We decide heel thickness and angle of the wedge at this point. These data provide the information necessary to design Acrylic Electron Wedge which can be used to improve dose uniformity at electron field junctions and it will be effectively applied to clinical practices.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.60-68
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• 1998

Treatment of a large diseased area with electron often requires the use of two or more adjoining fields. In such cases, not only electron beam divergence and lateral scattering but also fields overlapping and separation may lead to significant dose inhomogeneities(${\pm}20\%$) at the field junction area. In this study, we made Acrylic Electron Wedges to improve dose homogeneities(${\pm}5\%$) in these junction areas and considered application it to clinical practices. All measurements were made using 6, 9, 12, 16, 20MeV Electron beams from a linear accelerator for a $10{\times}10cm$ field at 100cm SSD. Adding a 1 mm sheet of acryl gradually from 1 mm to 15 mm, We acquired central axis depth dose beam profile and isodose curves in water phantom. As a result, for all energies, the practical range was reduced by approximately the same distance as the thickness of the acryl insert, e.g. a 1 mm thick acryl insert reduce the practical range by approximately 1 mm. For every mm thickness of acryl inserted, the beam energy was reduced by approximately 0.2MeV. These effects were almost independent of beam energy and field size. The use of Acrylic Electron Wedges produced a small increase $(less\;than\;3\%)\;in\;the\;surface\;dose\;and\;a\;small\;Increase(less\;than\;1\%)$ in X-ray contamination. For acryl inserts, thickness of 3 mm or greater, the penumbra width increased nearly linear for all energies and isodose curves near the beam edge were nearly parallel with the incident beam direction, and penumbra width was $35\;mm{\sim}40\;mm$. We decide heel thickness and angle of the wedge at this point. These data provide the information necessary to design Acrylic Electron Wedge which can be use to improve dose uniformity at electron field junctions and it will be effectively applicated in clinical practices.